Fine Gael has rejected claims by PD president Tom Parlon that the main opposition party could not gather sufficient support to form an alternative government. A PD spokesman has also distanced the party from his remarks.
Mr Parlon had dismissed the prospect of a Fine Gael-led administration, saying there was "a lack of realism" about that party's efforts to put together an alternative coalition because he did not see them "coming up with the numbers".
Responding last night, a Fine Gael spokesman said: "We still believe there is scope for an alternative government to be formed that is not led by Fianna Fáil, and we are continuing to work on that basis."
A PD spokesman said: "The national executive of the PDs has mandated Mary Harney to decide the best course of action for the party in terms of the options for government or otherwise. Mary Harney has been keeping her counsel on these matters. She has not ruled anything in or out."
Commenting earlier on Fine Gael's efforts to form an alternative coalition, Mr Parlon told RTÉ news: "I think there was a lack of realism about that particular possibility in terms of the numbers. I mean, it's all about the numbers, and I don't think we will really see Fine Gael coming up with the numbers to form a government."
In a separate interview yesterday on RTÉ radio's Morning Irelandabout the approach made by Fine Gael to the PDs, Mr Parlon said there was scepticism at PD internal discussions this week that Fine Gael had "a realistic chance of making the numbers" to form a government.
"Whilst they made a phone call I don't personally see any major follow-up to that," he added.
When asked if the PDs wanted to go back with Fianna Fáil, he said: "It's not about what we want to do at this stage; it's the opportunity that is there. There is an opportunity for the PDs to be involved in the next Fianna Fáil government if the proper terms can be negotiated."
Giving his attitude to possible Green Party involvement in a coalition with Fianna Fáil and the PDs, he said: "It's a real possibility, but that obviously has to be negotiated. From some of the soundings I have heard from the Greens and their conditions and so on, there would appear to be quite a bit of work to be done to work out that deal, but anything is possible in politics as I have learned in my short enough career in politics."
